Scottish council announces fire and rehire plans after equal pay negotiations “break down”: report
Glasgow City Council has reportedly said it will dismiss all non-teaching staff and issue new contracts next year, in order to end its current pay and grading structure lawfully.
Planning minister withdraws intervention in City of London emerging local plan
The Planning Minister has ended his intervention in the City of London Corporation’s emerging local plan (City Plan 2040) after planning inspectors issued their findings on its approach to managing tall buildings around the Tower of London World Heritage Site.
Councils need increase in overall funding to stem emerging risk of “system-wide financial failure”: LGA
The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that councils need an increase in overall funding to stem the emerging risk of “system-wide financial failure”, and to ensure that they can meet demand for vital services.
Case for extending NSIP judicial review reforms to other planning regimes “not yet made out on the evidence”: Law Society
The Law Society has said it supports the UK government’s aim of reducing avoidable delay and increasing certainty within the planning system but has insisted that any extension of the nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) judicial review reforms to other types of planning…
Borough to “tighten governance” around temporary accommodation procurement after monitoring officer and s.151 officer issue joint report
Havant Borough Council is to tighten its governance around temporary accommodation procurement after a joint Section 5A and Section 114A report from its monitoring officer and section 151 officer identified compliance failures in payments made to third-party providers.
Court of Protection judge finds no deprivation of liberty in case post AGNI
A Court of Protection judge has ruled that a woman with complex needs is not being deprived of her liberty within the meaning of Article 5 ECHR, following the judgment of the Supreme Court in AGNI.
Majority of council officers back statutory net zero duty, LGL and Ashfords research finds
A majority of council lawyers and officers want a statutory duty on local authorities to work towards net zero, but warn that a legal obligation without funding to match would be counterproductive, according to new research from Local Government Lawyer and law firm Ashfords.
House of Lords Public Services Committee launches inquiry into children’s social care
The House of Lords Public Services Committee has this month launched an inquiry into children’s social care to examine the impact of unregistered illegal children’s homes, key drivers of the increase in local authority spending, and other issues.
Adult social care complaints rose by 22% last year, Ombudsman reports
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has urged councils and care providers to “act now” on lessons learned, after complaints about adult social care in England rose by 22% last year.
Council loses appeal against £42k damages award over water running off highway
Cheshire East Council has lost an appeal against a finding that it allowed private nuisance by flooding at a home in Wrensbury and must pay £42,500 in damages.
Campaign group threatens legal action over impact of National Planning Policy Framework reforms on BNG
Environmental group Lifescape Project has sent a pre-action protocol letter to the Government over the impact of changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) on biodiversity net gain (BNG) and devolution.
Audit Wales finds decision-making arrangements at council generally working well but suggests “there are opportunities to strengthen”
Wales’ auditor general Catherine Mealing-Jones has urged Ceredigion County Council to improve its decision-making arrangements and found its restricted webcasting to be out of step with other Welsh councils.
Council leader found guilty of fraud and tax evasion
Ashfield District Council leader Jason Zadrozny has been found guilty of nine counts of fraud by collecting funds for a non-existent local amenity group.
Kent County Council still mulling legal action over Government decision on reorganisation despite pause
Kent County Council leader, Linden Kemkaran, has said she is still considering a legal challenge against the Government’s decision in July to back the four-unitary proposal for Kent and Medway submitted by Dover District Council, Swale Borough Council and Thanet District Council.
Leicestershire councils send pre-action protocol letter “to protect legal position” over local government reorganisation
Five district and borough councils in Leicestershire have sent a pre-action letter to the Government over its decision on local government reorganisation (LGR), despite Secretary of State Angela Rayner’s recent announcement of a pause to the programme.
Give mayors in England double amount of funding through share of income tax – subject to suitable accountability measures, says thinktank
England’s mayors should be handed a 5% share of income tax revenues, giving them an extra £3.8 billion a year and roughly doubling the funding under their control, a thinktank has recommended.
Coroner rejects request for anonymity on behalf of council workers in Sara Sharif inquest
A coroner has rejected a request for anonymity made on behalf of three Surrey County Council employees for the inquest into the death of Sara Sharif.
Law Society issues practice note on differences between English and Welsh law
The Law Society of England and Wales has issued a practice note on differences between English and Welsh law that is intended to give an overview of Welsh devolution, divergence and devolved powers and potential impacts on solicitors’ legal practice.
Legal challenge launched over government plans to house asylum seekers at Bicester military base
Campaigners have begun the process of challenging the Government’s decision that a proposed asylum accommodation development at MOD Bicester does not require a full environmental impact assessment (EIA).
Council secures final High Court injunction over unlawful development
Somerset Council has secured a final injunction in a long-running battle over land used as a travellers’ site.
High Court judge allows claim over level of support for disabled 13-year-old
The High Court has quashed an NHS Integrated Care Board’s decision on the level of support to be provided to a disabled 13-year-old, finding that the decision not to provide 24/7 care was “outside the range of reasonable responses”.
Leading planning silk among ten new High Court judges
Planning and local government specialist Daniel Kolinsky KC from Landmark Chambers is among ten new High Court judges.
Scottish Government consults on local government shake-up that would see 32 councils replaced by 6-10 regional authorities
The Scottish Government has published a proposal for reform of local government that would see current arrangements replaced by six to ten regional authorities focused on strategic decision-making.
Police find “insufficient evidence of criminality” to warrant further investigation into regeneration project
Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed no action will be taken after a year-long investigation into a government-backed regeneration project in Glastonbury.
Minister orders council to hold Regulation 19 consultation on emerging Local Plan
The Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook, has ordered West Northamptonshire to commence a Regulation 19 consultation on its emerging Local Plan.
Shadow leader of incoming West Surrey Council asks for legal advice behind local government reorganisation decisions
The Leader of West Surrey shadow authority has requested sight of the legal advice that informed recent Government decisions on local government reorganisation.
Company behind “box-shifting” business rates mitigation scheme lodges application with Supreme Court for permission to appeal Court of Appeal setback
A proponent of “box-shifting” business rates mitigation has lodged an application with the Supreme Court for permission to appeal a Court of Appeal ruling in favour of City of London Corporation.
Developer seeks permission from Supreme Court to appeal subsidy control ruling
Developer Aubrey Weis has lodged an application with the Supreme Court to appeal the Court of Appeal’s rejection of his challenge against Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) over its decision to give more than £140m in loans to rivals.
Council to take Government to High Court after being stripped of powers to decide major planning applications
Wychavon District Council is to take the Government to High Court after it was stripped of its powers to determine large planning applications.
Working group publishes report setting out sustainable operating model for local government in Wales
A report into the future of local government in Wales has warned that the current operating model is “unsustainable, due to rising costs, budgetary constraints, and increasing demand for statutory services”.
EM Lawshare fires gun on procurement of £1.2bn legal services framework
The EM Lawshare consortium has started the procurement of its next legal services framework agreement, which is estimated to be worth up to £1.2bn.
Abuse and intimidation of councillors across UK “worsening”, warns LGA
Over three-quarters of councillors have reported feeling “at personal risk” while fulfilling their elected role, according to a survey by the Local Government Association (LGA).
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch instructs lawyers to challenge government over local funding cuts
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said she has instructed lawyers to potentially challenge the government over local funding cuts, after a record council tax rise in Wandsworth, a Conservative south-west London borough.
Council publishes s.5A report on prima facie breaches but monitoring officer concludes they were “minor and inadvertent”
A report under section 5A of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 at Suffolk County Council, which related to the local authority’s judicial review challenge to local government reorganisation and was leaked in August, has now been published.
“Urgent investigation” launched by MoJ following Southport attack data breach
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched an “urgent investigation” after court files detailing victims, their families and survivors of the Southport attack in July 2024 were accessed without authorisation.
Council unable to appoint Leader and Cabinet puts in place interim governance arrangements following legal advice
Oldham Council has approved interim governance arrangements while its months-long struggle to appoint a Leader and Cabinet continues.
Judge rejects challenge to solar development on 65-acre site
The High Court has rejected a legal challenge against the grant of planning permission for a renewable energy development in rural Kent, dismissing the four grounds raised by the local Parish Council.
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust seeking to procure provider for provision of specialist town planning legal advice
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust has kick-started the procurement of a provider for specialist town planning legal advice services, in connection with the New Hospital Programme at Frimley Park Hospital, Heatherwood Hospital and the Trust's existing estate.
ICO updates FOI guidance on the public interest test following Supreme Court ruling
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has updated its guidance on the public interest test, which public authorities use to decide whether to withhold information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) when a qualified exemption applies.
Councils call for “urgent clarity” on how quickly review of LGR programme will be completed
The County Councils Network (CCN) has this week called for “urgent clarity” on how quickly a review of the Government’s local government reorganisation (LGR) programme will be completed, and on the timescales for “fully reimbursing” councils for costs incurred as a result of the programme.
Discrimination claim against council officer “totally without merit”, court rules
The County Court at Central London has dismissed an Equality Act claim of discrimination brought personally against a Director at East Hertfordshire District Council in his professional capacity as “totally without merit”.
Court of Appeal finds council was required to carry out mental capacity assessment ahead of completing Care Act assessment
The Court of Appeal (Civil Division) has allowed an appeal against the dismissal of an application for judicial review of London Borough of Haringey’s assessment of a young man’s social care needs under the Care Act 2014.
High Court quashes planning permission for 132-flat scheme over misleading officers’ report
The London Borough of Hounslow’s planning committee proceeded on a false premise because an officers’ report was misleading, the High Court has found.
Council eyes legal challenge to Government intervention in local plan process
Basildon Council is to try to take the Government to the High Court over its intervention in the borough’s local plan.
Law firm writes open letter to TfL over issues with supply of parts to taxis
A law firm that specialises in the taxi trade has said London could face a further contraction in its licensed taxi fleet due to problems with the supply of parts for the TX5 electric model.
Jobs
Senior Planning Lawyer
£44,253 - £47,665 pro rata per annum
Litigation Lawyer
£51,931 per annum
Principal Lawyer
£46,579 - £50,908 per annum
Solicitor
£41,784 - £48,150 per annum
Chief Lawyer - Contracts
£68,427 - £76,588 per annum inc. London weighting
Locum roles
Directory
Events
Planning Enforcement and Advertisements - Ivy Legal 
Minerals webinar series - Part 4: Local Authority / MHCLG / DEFRA - Landmark Chambers
28-09-2026
Online (live)
No such thing as bad PR? - Exploring Parental Responsibility - 42BR 
The new legislation expanding the duty to prevent harassment in the workplace - DWF
29-09-2026 12:00 pm
Online (live)
Property Law Roadshow - Cornwall 2026 - St John's Chambers 
Annual Planning Forum 2026 - Francis Taylor Building 
Employment Law Conference - 4-5 Grays Inn Square 
PATC: Equal pay in local government - Hugh James 
Housing Day 2026 - Cornerstone Barristers 
The Paul Darling KC Construction Conference 2026 - 39 Essex Chambers 
HMPL Building Blocks: Arrears Recovery for Leasehold Properties Including Shared Ownership - Devonshires
13-10-2026
Online (live)
Understanding GDPR Accountability and Conducting Data Protection Audits - Act Now
13-10-2026 10:00 am
Online (live)
PATC | Subsidy control - Hugh James 
Public Sector Insights: Mental Health and Capacity Matters - Blake Morgan 
Commercial Lease Renewals: Practical Issues, Procedure and Strategy - Cornerstone Barristers
14-10-2026 4:00 pm
London
Construction Law Seminar 2026 - 3PB 
Certified Data Protection Officer Training (CDPO) - The Training Centre
19-10-2026 9:00 am
Online (live)
